Best Fractional Chief Executive Officer Services in the UK

UK Outsourced Chief Executive Officer Agencies

Finding the right leadership at the right time is one of the biggest inflection points for any growing business. Whether you're navigating investment rounds, scaling a SaaS platform, or restructuring operations post-acquisition, a fractional CEO can bring in the clarity, execution power, and strategic edge without the long-term commitment of a full-time hire.

This guide curates the top UK-based agencies and professionals offering Fractional, Part-Time, and Virtual CEO services. Backed by real client wins, credible industry presence, and domain specialization, these leaders are redefining what executive support can look like on-demand, embedded, and radically results-driven.

At Digital Reference, we believe in radical authenticity, real leaders, with real results, and real transparency. That’s exactly what this list delivers.

How We Selected These UK Fractional CEO Providers

The providers featured below were selected based on:

• ✅ Client Outcomes: Verified testimonials, successful turnarounds, or growth metrics.
  ✅ Founder Expertise: Demonstrated industry leadership via LinkedIn profiles, talks, or advisory work.
• ✅ Service Focus: Targeted experience with UK-based SMEs, PE-backed ventures, or tech startups.
• ✅ Operating Model: Clear positioning around fractional/virtual leadership, not just traditional consulting.

Each spotlight includes a closer look at the company’s model, philosophy, sectors they serve, and a deep dive into the founder or CEO’s background.

🔦 Fractional ,Virtual, & Part-Time CEO Services in the UK Provider Spotlights

Oakstone International

🔗 Website: https://www.oakstone.co.uk/

What they do:
Oakstone International delivers executive search and fractional leadership solutions for scaling businesses across the UK and Europe, with strong traction in tech, SaaS, and life sciences.

Who they serve:
High-growth SaaS firms, biotech companies, and expansion-stage European businesses.

How they work:
They prioritise speed, cultural alignment, and outcome-driven placements, combining rigorous vetting with board-level advisory insight.

💡 Why they stand out:

• 30-year track record in executive leadership hiring
• Deep SaaS and biotech networks
• Proven GTM leadership playbooks for European expansion

Paul Rayner, Founder, Oakstone International

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulrayner/

Paul Rayner brings more than 30 years of leadership hiring and executive assessment experience. As Oakstone’s founder, he’s known for his ability to read not just the market but the boardroom. His style is pragmatic, no-nonsense, and relationship-first. On LinkedIn, Paul shares frequent commentary on leadership pitfalls, hiring missteps, and how fractional roles are reshaping growth-stage companies.

Fractional Execs

🔗 Website: https://www.fractional-execs.co.uk/

What they do:
Fractional Execs provides on-demand executive placements across CEO, COO, and CMO roles for scaling UK startups and SMEs.

Who they serve:
Early-to-mid stage tech, SaaS, B2B services, and DTC brands preparing for scale or exit.

How they work:
They offer flexible engagements (1–3 days per week or project-based), aligning strategic leadership with fundraising readiness and operational transformation.

💡 Why they stand out:

• Strong ties to angel syndicates and accelerators
• Focused on Series A and scaling businesses
• Flexible, cost-efficient leadership structures

Alan Giles, Founder, Fractional Execs

🔗 https://www.fractional-execs.co.uk/executives/alan-giles

Alan has been working in the Enterprise Mobility, Security and FinTech arena for the past 29 years, and has a wealth of experience with software solution providers at different stages of their corporate lifecycle.

Profici

🔗 Website: https://profici.co.uk/

What they do:
Profici provides embedded fractional C-suite leadership for founder-led businesses and consumer brands experiencing growth plateaus.

Who they serve:
Owner-managed businesses, D2C brands, and scaling consumer startups.

How they work:
Their team—largely former founders—operates in a high-touch, embedded model focused on execution, not theory.

💡 Why they stand out:

• Founder-led advisory team
• Strong track record in leadership team turnarounds
• Flexible, founder-friendly engagement structures

Anthony O'Brien, Founder, Profici

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-obrien/

Anthon designed Profici for businesses looking to scale, particularly those needing high-level strategy execution and C-suite expertise without permanent hires.

Dependopolis

🔗 Website: https://www.dependopolis.com/

What they do:
Dependopolis delivers agile fractional CEO services and strategic guidance for early-stage UK B2B and technology businesses.

Who they serve:
Technology firms, consulting businesses, and founder-led startups needing structured execution support.

How they work:
They operate through short, metric-driven engagements focused on operational turnaround, go-to-market alignment, and reducing founder dependency.

💡 Why they stand out:

• Clear frameworks addressing founder-dependence issues
• Rapid-impact, agile consulting structure
• Transparent pricing and defined scopes

Shebin Hassan, Founder, Dependopolis

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shebinhassan/

Shebin Hassan built Dependopolis to close the “strategy-to-execution” gap he saw in advisory-only firms. With a background in product, innovation, and digital transformation, Shebin brings a cross-disciplinary lens to every engagement. His leadership philosophy is grounded in data clarity and decisiveness. He frequently writes about scaling pain points and execution blind spots, two things he helps founders fix fast.

ON Consulting

🔗 Website: https://www.on-consulting.uk/

What they do:
ON Consulting offers fractional CEO, CCO, and board advisory services, often operating in PE-backed and turnaround environments. With deep experience in B2B, SaaS, and infrastructure-heavy sectors, ON Consulting is known for its ability to quickly define operating models and scale leadership functions with minimal ramp time.

What they do:
ON Consulting provides fractional CEO, CCO, and board advisory services, particularly in PE-backed and transformation-driven environments.

Who they serve:
PE portfolio companies, mid-market SaaS firms, professional services organisations, and infrastructure-heavy sectors.

How they work:
They deploy proven operating models and GTM frameworks, stepping into executive or board-level roles within weeks to drive transformation outcomes.

💡 Why they stand out:

• Rapid executive integration (1–2 weeks)
• Strong industrial SaaS and logistics tech experience
• £150M+ transformation initiatives led
  

Matt Parry-Hann, Founder, ON Consulting

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-parry-hann/

Matt brings over 25 years of senior leadership experience across the UK, Europe, and North America. A former executive at multiple PLCs and scale-ups, he’s known for calm operational command and strategic clarity under pressure. According to his profile, he’s led transformation initiatives exceeding £150M in value, and serves as a board advisor to multiple tech-enabled businesses. His leadership is marked by clear frameworks, trust-building, and fast assimilation into founder-led teams.

London Business Network

🔗 Website: https://londonbusinessnetwork.uk/

What they do:
London Business Network combines fractional CEO services with an international business networking ecosystem, supporting startups and scaling ventures in growth and market access.

Who they serve:
Entrepreneurs, startups, FDI agencies, and companies expanding internationally.

How they work:
They blend executive leadership advisory with structured growth planning, investor readiness support, and cross-border expansion expertise.

💡 Why they stand out:

• Strong engagement across London and global ecosystems
• Combines executive advisory with international market access
• Proven expansion support for global ventures

Wilford Augustus - Founder, London Business Network

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilfordaugustus/

As a Founder, Civic Leader and Former Mayor, Wilford draws on senior leadership experience in the boardroom and public sector, combined with his global strategic vision and proven in-country expertise across the United Kingdom, Nordics, Latin America, and the Caribbean. He provides trusted international connections, grounded cultural insight, and regional fluency to every engagement.

As a Fractional CEO and Growth Strategist, Wilford advises and coaches entrepreneurs, startups, and senior executives, having previously worked with multinational organisations including EY, the United Nations, and Kimberly-Clark. A frequent keynote speaker and panel contributor, Wilford shares insights on international growth strategies, executive presence, and building high-performance leadership mindsets to excel under pressure in complex global environments.

Why Fractional CEOs Are Booming in the UK

UK businesses especially in tech, services, and owner-led segments are embracing fractional leadership as the new normal. With market uncertainty and the need for flexible, agile decisions, the appeal of having a seasoned operator without the full-time cost is clear.

Fractional CEOs help with:

📈 Scaling strategy and leadership gaps

💼 PE or VC transition periods

🔄 Restructuring, succession, or exits

🧩 Aligning founders and boards

Final Thoughts from Digital Reference

At Digital Reference, we champion leaders who are radically authentic, results-obsessed, and willing to step in where others hesitate. The providers on this list aren’t just experts, they're operators. They bring the mindset of “getting it done,” not just “talking about it.”

Want to build a leadership team that reflects your actual challenges? Start with people who’ve already solved them elsewhere.

For more curated guides on fractional leadership across roles CIOs, CSOs, CISOs, and more check out our other blogs and stay connected.

Let’s build leadership differently.